UCLan dentistry student wins second national dental society award

Danny tastes success for second year running

A dentistry student from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has won an award for the second year in a row from a national dental society.

Danny Watts beat off competition from other dentistry students around the country to win a prize from the British Society of Prosthodontics (BSSPD) only a year after winning a similar award in 2015 from the British Society of Periodontology.

The BSSPD Heraeus-Kulzer Undergraduate Award is presented annually for the best critical review related to prosthodontics, which focuses on reconstruction and replacement of damaged teeth, with the recipient receiving £250 and certificate. Danny’s essay focuses on fixed partial dentures and the factors affecting the decision to support them with teeth or implants.

I’m really pleased that I’ve managed to win two national awards from two different dental societies in a short space of time.

The idea for Danny’s essay came from treating a patient while on placement at the Blackpool Dental Education Centre (DEC) where he has been based for the last three years.

The 24-year-old final year student commented: “I’m really pleased that I’ve managed to win two national awards from two different dental societies in a short space of time. I'd like to thank the staff for their support, particularly our clinical tutors who are always very approachable.”

The BSSPD is one of the longest established specialist dental societies. It was formed in 1953 and promotes excellence, training and research in prosthodontics. The prestigious annual award is open to undergraduate students studying for a Bachelor in Dental Surgery.

BSSPD Awards Administrator Dr Phil Smith said: “The submissions for this award were judged on a number of academic criteria and were all of a very high standard. However, the understanding of the clinical importance of topic under consideration, together with the overall structure and impact of Danny’s review made his entry outstanding.”

UCLan student Danny Watts

I want to offer my congratulations to Danny who is a thoroughly deserved award winner. I’m sure he is destined for a distinguished academic career.

UCLan Senior Clinical Teacher and Clinical Coordinator of the Blackpool DEC Ian Burn said: “I want to offer my congratulations to Danny who is a thoroughly deserved award winner. I’m sure he is destined for a distinguished academic career.”

Danny, who originally hails from London, will finish his degree this summer and has already secured a dentistry job in Norwich where his family now lives. He will be presented with his award at the British Society of Prosthodontics Annual Conference later this year in Manchester.